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HISTOEY 



CEDAR GROVE 



PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 



AND CONGHEGATION, 



EAST EARL TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER COUNTY: 



A COLONY FROM THE CHURCH OF PEQUEA. 



READ BEFORE THE CONGREGATION ON THE DAY THEIR CHURCH EDIFICE, AS 

REMODELLED, WAS DEDICATED TO THE WORSHIP OF GOD, 

AUGUST 31, 1853. 



BY THE 

REV. JOHN LEAMAN, M.D. 



PHILADELPHIA : 

JOSEPH M. WILSON. 

228 CHESTNUT STREET. 
1853. 



THIS SKETCH IS DEDICATED 



PRESBYTERIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



34^ GT 

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CORRESPONDENCE. 



East Earl Township, September 2cl, 1853. 

To THE Rev, John Leaman, M.D. 

Reverexd and Dear Sir : — We, the undersigned, members of the Congre- 
gation of Cedar Grove, having listened with deep interest to the history of 
the " Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church," jDrepared and read by you on Wed- 
nesday last, and believing the further circulation of said history would be 
useful, and wishing it to be preserved in a more enduring and accessible 
form, would respectfully solicit of you a copy of the same for publication. 

In making this request, allow us to express our high satisfaction with the 
manner in which you have performed this important task, and tender to j'ou 
our sincere acknowledgments for the valuable service which you have thereby 
rendered to the congregation and to the community at large. 

Abraham Dehaven. 
John Wallace. 
Thomas Russell. 
Henry Ranck. 
George Russell. 
Davies Wallace. 
Alexander Galt. 
George Wallace. 
John Martin. 
Christian Siiowalter. 
Henry Merino. 
Christian Stauffer. 
Henderson A. Wallace. 
John S. Wallace. 
William J. Wallace. 
Thomas Russell, Jr. 
Alexander Martin. 



Cedar Grove Manse, September 5th, 1S53. 
Gextlemex : — 

I have received your very kind note, requesting for publication a copy of 

the history of your Church, read before the congregation on the day the 

church edifice was dedicated to the worship of God. I prepared this history 

with the design of presenting it to you on that occasion ; and it is, therefore, 

with all its imperfections, at your disposal. 

With gratitude for your repeated acts of kindness, 

I am, most sincerely, yours, 

JOHN LEAMAN. 

To Messrs. Abraham Dehavex, 

John Wallace, 

Thomas Russell, 

Henry Ranck, 

George Russell, 

and others. 



HISTORY. 



" Your fathers, where are tliey ? — Zecuabiah I. 5." 

Members of the Cedar Grove 

Presbyterian Church and Congregation : 

When your pastor was called to take charge of this Church, 
and became partially acquainted with her early history, he re- 
solved to rescue those interesting associations of the past from 
the oblivion into which they were rapidly sinking, and delineate 
the character she maintained in the days of your fathers. This 
pleasing task has been postponed, for various reasons, until the 
present time. He has, on this occasion, the gratification of pre- 
senting before you, a full and connected history of your Church, 
from 1775 to the present day. 

With all its imperfections, this narrative may, at least, claim 
your confidence as authentic history. No labor has been spared 
to ascertain the truth. Although the Sessional Records, except 
for the last twenty years, are lost, other sources, on which we 
could rely, with equal confidence, have been consulted. Our 
information has been principally derived from the Minutes of 
Presbytery, the Records of the trustees, and other documents 
and papers preserved in various parts of the congregation and 
surrounding neighborhood. The incidents we have received 
through written or verbal communication, illustrating the cha- 
racter of pastor or people, are the results of the personal obser- 
vation of those from whom we obtained them ; or were handed 
down from their parents, who are gone to the grave. 

We need not describe to you this beautiful secluded valley, 
where Providence has kindly cast your lot, and diffused around 
you the richest profusion of his bounty. We need not tell you, 



6 

of its lovely fertile plains, and gently rising hills, that embosom 
the church of your fathers. We need not describe your moun- 
tain, clad with lofty forest trees, bounding the southern portion 
of your valley, and separating your church from her respected 
mother of Pequea. We need not tell you of your limpid moun- 
tain streams, gaily dancing over their rocky bed, and softly 
winding through your verdant meadows. All these are familiar. 
They are inseparably connected with the home of childhood ; 
that beloved spot, which is hallowed in your memory by all those 
tender associations, that cluster around the heart, as you think of 
those dear departed ones who once sat with you at the domestic 
hearth. Every prospect around you is familiar ; and this alone 
has rendered you, in a measure, insensible to their beauty. An 
admired poet has thus expressed this principle of the human 
mind : 

" Prospects, however lovely, may he seen, 
Till half their beauties fade; the weary sight, 
Too well acquainted with their smiles, slides off. 
Fastidious, seeking less familiar scenes." 

Those who visit this valley for the first time, invariably admire 
its scenery ; and many, who have travelled some, have ranked it 
among the most beautiful they have seen. 

Less than one hundred and fifty years ago, the Conestoga 
Valley was a howling wilderness. No human foot trod upon its 
soil, but that of the native Indian. At last, the persecuted and 
friendless European came, to seek, upon its dreary bosom, a 
resting-place and a home. England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, 
Switzerland, Germany, Holland, and France, all contributed in 
transforming this forest into its present condition. Those who 
came, at this early period, could not be ranked among the refuse 
population of Europe ; but, on the contrary, the choicest of her 
subjects, the refined, the learned, with the word of God in their 
hands and his Spirit in their hearts, were driven, by religious 
intolerance, to seek the asylum which this wilderness presented. 

Such were some of those, who immigrated to this portion of the 
Conestoga Valley. In 1718, it received its first white inhabitants. 
From that period onward, the wild forest gradually became trans- 



formed into the abode of civilized man. In 1730, a company 
from Wales, most of whom belonged to the parish of Bangor, 
established at Churchtown, the Bangor Episcopal Church. In 
the same year, a number of emigrants from Germany, organized, 
in New Holland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Sixteen 
years after this, in 1746, the German Reformed Church at New 
Holland was organized, and placed under the pastoral charge of 
Rev. Michael Shlatter. Twenty years after this, in 1766, the 
church of the Mennonites, in this vicinity, was established. 

Among those who emigrated from Wales, Scotland, and Ire- 
land, to this portion of the Conestoga Valley, many were Presby- 
terians ; and constituted the germ of the Cedar G-rove Presbyte- 
rian Church. The descendants of some of these families are 
still in your midst, and occupy, in your church, the seats of their 
fathers. These are, the Jenkinses, Martins, Gaits, Wallaces, 
Dehavens, Thompsons, Vogans, McConoughies, and Goods. 

Between the periods of 1734 and 1747, most of the land now 
in the possession of the members of this church, was patented. 
The ground on which this church edifice is situated, and two 
hundred and nine acres around it, were patented, February 18, 
1734, to Mr. John Mcllvain, one of the earliest members of this 
church. It is now, with the exception of the churchyard, in the 
possession of Elder John Wallace. Adjoining the western boun- 
dary of this tract, lies a body of land, containing seventy-five 
acres, which was patented to JNIr. John Balthazar Pidser, June 
25, 1748, and is now held by a member of this church, Mr. 
Davies Wallace. Nearly adjoining this, in the northeast, is a 
lot of one acre and fifty perches, in the hands of a member of 
this church. Miss Elizabeth Kibler; which was, probably, pa- 
tented at the same time and by the same person. 

One mile southeast of this church, lies a tract of one hundred 
and ninety-one acres, which was patented to Mr. Matthew 
Martin, March 25, 1737. It descended to his son Alexander, 
and is now, with the exception of thirty-one acres, in the pos- 
session of his grandson, Mr. John Martin, a member of this con- 
gregation. Adjoining this on the west, is a farm of sixty-seven 
acres and eighty perches ; patented to Mr. George Maui'ter, 
October 17, 1776 ; and is now held by a member of this cono-re- 



gation, Mr. John Davies. Adjoining this on the west, is a lot of 
seven acres and twenty perches ; patented, perhaps, about the 
same time; and is now in the hands of Mr. Benjamin Davies, 
whose wife is a member of this church. About one mile west of 
this, is a lot of nine acres and one hundred and eighteen perches ; 
patented to Mr. George Matter, December 10, 1771 ; and is 
now in the possession of a member of this congregation, Mr. 
Henry Mering. 

Three miles west of this church edifice, lies a tract of two 
hundred and seventy-six acres ; which was patented to Mr. Hugh 
Thompson, April 20, 1749. It is now in the hands of Elder 
Abraham Dehaven, whose late consort was a lineal descendant 
from the patentee. One hundred and forty-two acres, adjoining 
the above land, were patented to Mr. Rees David, January 27, 
1737. Thirty-five acres of this, with ten lying in their vicinity, 
are now held by Elder Henry Ranch. 

Four miles northwest of this church, lie two hundred and sixty 
acres, which were patented to Mr. Rees Morgan, in 1738. Ad- 
joining this, are two hundred acres, patented May 26, of the 
same year, to Mr. Byerly. Two hundred acres of the above 
tracts are now in the possession of a member of this church, 
Mr. Alexander Gait. Adjacent to this, is a tract of two hun- 
dred and seventy-four acres ; one hundred and twenty-four of 
which were patented to Mr. George Brown, April 13, 1742; 
and the balance, October 7, 1747. This land was purchased of 
the patentee, by Mr. Christian Showalter, November 12, 1750 ; 
and forty-eight acres of it are now held by his grandson of the 
same name, a member of this church. Four miles west of this, 
at Voganville, is a tract of one hundred and fifty-nine acres ; 
patented to Mr. Joseph Smith, October 12, 1748. It is now in 
the hands of Messrs. John and Isaac Vogan, who still assist in 
sustaining the Gospel in this house. 

At Churchtown, five miles northeast of this building, lies the 
Windsor Forge tract, containing three hundred and nine acres ; 
purchased in 1733, by Mr. John Jenkins, a member of this 
church. Mr. Jenkins afterwards sold it to Mr. William Bran- 
son, to whom it was patented in form, December 28, 1742. This 
tract is now in the possession of an aged member of this church, 



9 

Mrs. Catliarine Jenkins. Adjacent to this, are one thousand 
and thirty-three acres ; which were patented to Mr. William 
. Branson, August 8, 1745. This was afterwards purchased by 
Mr. David Jenkins, son of Mr. John Jenkins ; and much of it 
yet remains in the hands of his descendants. Mr. David Jen- 
kins, in his last will and testament, dated March 27, 1797, be- 
queathed to his children, three thousand acres, in the vicinity of 
Churchtown. 

The tracts above enumerated, embrace all the land now in the 
possession of the members of this church, except sixty-six acres, 
belonging to Elders Thomas and George Russell, thirty-eight 
acres and twenty perches, in the hands of Mr. Alexander Martin, 
and one acre and one hundred and forty perches, owned by Mrs. 
Rachael Plank ; the patents of wdiich could not conveniently be 
found. 

As these patents include about four thousand nine hundred 
acres, situated in various parts of this valley, they enable us to 
form some idea of the period of its settlement ; and for this 
reason, they are mentioned in this history. These patents were 
given by the descendants of William Penn, between 1734 and 
1747 ; except those for the mountain land, which are dated some 
thirty years later. 

When the Presbyterians emigrated from Wales, Scotland, and 
Ireland to this valley, and purchased their land, their number 
was too small to sustain a pastor. Notwithstanding, they did 
not become merged in the Episcopal, Lutheran, or German Re- 
formed churches already organized in their vicinity ; but crossed 
the Welsh Mountain every Sabbath morning, to mingle their 
prayers and praises with those of their brethren in the Presby- 
terian GhurcJi of Pequea. This, they called their church. Here 
they worshipped ; here they contributed their portion towards 
sustaining the pastor. 

The early history of this ancient church is, in a great measure, 
lost. Nothing is to be found on the Records of Presbytery in 
relation to her organization. Tradition says, that the Rev. 
Adam Boyd was commissioned by Presbytery to collect a con- 
gregation at Pequea, and take the preliminary steps towards its 
organization. After this, he performed the same duty at Lea- 



10 

cock, and was finally settled, as pastor, over Upper Octorara, in 
1724. The Church of Pequea must, consequently, have been 
organized very early in the last century. 

It appears, on the Minutes of Presbytery, that in 1733, the 
Rev. Alexander Craighead was installed pastor of this church. 
This was about the time the first Presbyterians immigrated to 
this part of the Conestoga Valley. Two years after the installa- 
tion of Mr. Craighead, the pastoral relation between him and his 
charge at Pequea was dissolved, and the Rev. Daniel Alexander 
became his successor. Mr. Alexander maintained this relation 
until 1750 ; at which time, the Rev. Robert Smith, D.D., was 
installed. Dr. Smith labored in this field until his death, which 
occurred in 1793. 

Half a century had well-nigh passed away, since the first Pres- 
byterian immigrants came to this part of the Conestoga Valley ; 
and they were still pursuing their Sabbath ride, across the Welsh 
Mountain, to the Church of Pequea. At last, their number being 
much increased, and their lands becoming cleared and more pro- 
ductive, they resolved to establish a place of preaching on this 
side of the mountain, and obtain part of the labor of their pastor, 
the Rev. Robert Smith, D.D. For this purpose, they selected, 
on the property of Mr. Robert Wallace, the father of Elder John 
Wallace, a site, in the vicinity of the Blue Ball, a few rods west 
of the spot where now stands the farm-house of Mr. Henry Root. 
Here was a stream of water, and a spring flowing out from the 
midst of forest trees. On this spot they erected a platform for 
the preacher, and seats for the congregation ; and called it 
" The Run." 

We cannot ascertain the date of the beginning of this church 
at the Run. No document is in existence to which we can refer. 
Elder John Wallace, who is now eighty-four years of age, says, 
that among his earliest recollections, is, the assembling of the 
congregation to hear the preaching of Dr. Smith, on this spot, 
beside his father's house. Admitting that he can remember 
what occurred when he was at the age of six years, it would 
carry us back to the period of 1775 ; one year before the Co- 
lonies declared themselves independent. A lady, the daughter 
of Elder James Gait, says, she heard her mother frequently nar- 



11 

rate tlie following incident : " One Sabbath morning, in 1775, 
she was sitting beside her parents at the Run, while Dr. Smith 
was preaching. In the midst of the sermon, a number of cattle, 
followed by dogs, ran towards the congregation ; and an infu- 
riated bull rushed among the people, and dispersed them. The 
ladies, especially, were thrown into such confusion that the 
Doctor did not attempt to resume his discourse. He pronounced 
the benediction, and dismissed the assembly." We have thus 
satisfiictory testimony, that in 1775, Dr. Smith was preaching at 
the Run. How much earlier than this, religious services may 
have been held in this place, we have no means of ascertaining. 

During the space of ten years from this period, the Gospel 
was preached, every eighth Sabbath, at the Run. 

In 1785, the ConsTregation resolved to select a more elic-ible 
site, where a permanent place of preaching might be established. 
The spot where this church edifice now stands attracted their 
attention. A beautiful grove of cedars cast their shade upon 
the green sod beneath, and, a few yards distant, a spring poured 
forth its limpid waters. On this site they erected their platform 
and seats. The platform was built beneath a white oak, which 
mingled its shade with that of the cedars, and is still standing in 
the northwest corner of the churchyard. In 1785, Dr. Smith 
first stood on that platform, and preached to your fathers the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ. From that day to the present, this has 
been hallowed ground. During all the vicissitudes that mark the 
flight of time, the smile of Providence has never forsaken this 
spot. The gray hairs of that venerable man who first preached 
beneath these cedars, have descended to the grave, but the same 
doctrine and precepts which he proclaimed are still preached to 
you. It is not remarkable that the tenderest associations should 
be awakened in your bosom as you tread this sacred ground ; for 
here your fathers worshipped, and here have scenes been wit- 
nessed that are recorded in heaven. 

About the time that Dr. Smith began to preach at this place, 
the church of Pequea obtained a charter, in order to hold a 
legacy of two hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, 
bequeathed to her by Mr. Robert McCally. The charter was 
dated February 5th, 1785. The trustees appointed were, Messrs. 



12 

Isaac McCalmont, Amos Slaymaker, James Armor, Thomas 
Slemons, Andrew Caldwell, Robert Byers, David Jenkins, Thomas 
Patton, and the Rev. Robert Smith, D.D., under the title of 
" The Trustees of the Presbyterian Congregation of Pequea, in 
Salisbury Township, and Coimty of Lancaster." 

Some of the trustees elected under this charter resided in the 
Conestoga Y alley, and took charge of the temporal interest of 
this portion of the church. Two years after Dr. Smith had 
preached, for the first time, on the platform erected in the midst 
of the cedars, the Congregation purchased of the proprietor, Mr. 
Alexander Mcllvain, one hundred and ten perches of land im- 
mediately around the spot where they worshipped. The article 
of agreement was made with Messrs. James Gait and James 
McConal, " Trustees of the Corporation." It was dated March 
5th, 1787. The amount paid for the land was thirteen dollars 
and thirty-three cents. About the time this instrument was 
drawn, the Congregation erected a church edifice on the spot 
which this house occupies. It was built of stone ; and the seats 
were arranged in such a manner that it could be used during the 
week as a school-house. The entrance was on the east, and the 
pulpit stood on the north. Here, many of the present members 
of this church received the elements of their education. From 
the beautiful grove of cedars that surrounded and shaded this 
spot, the edifice received the name of the " Cedar Grove Presby- 
terian Church, of Earl Township." The only title the Congre- 
gation possessed for the land, during the space of four years, was 
the article of agreement. May 21st, 1791, a deed of conveyance 
was made by the former proprietor, Mr. Alexander Mcllvain, 
and his wife, to the Rev. Robert Smith, D.D., and Messrs. John 
Jenkins, James Gait, and James McConal, " Trustees of and for 
the Presbyterian Congregation of Earl Township." 

Three years had passed away since their church edifice was 
erected, and the amount of preaching in their vicinity continued 
the same. Every eighth Sabbath Dr. Smith spent with them in 
their new house ; as the custom was, in those days, preaching 
two sermons, with a recess between them of half an hour. March 
1st, 1790, a subscription was circulated to obtain more of Dr. 
Smith's time. As this instrument casts lio'ht on the condition of 



13 



the Congregation at this early period, I have transcribed it entire. 
""We, the subscribers, members of the Presbyterian Church, who 
convene for worship in the new or Cedar Grove Presbyterian 
Church, in Earl Township, or wish to promote the interest of the 
Gospel there, sensible of the loss we and our families sustain by 
so seldom enjoying the public ordinances, do, in order to obtain 
more of the Rev. Dr. Robert Smith's labors amongst us, namely, 
as much of them as our subscription will procure, promise to pay 
yearly, and every year, to Colonel David Jenkins and James Gait, 
and their successors, as trustees for the Congregation, in trust for 
the foresaid Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, the sums subscribed to our 
names respectively, so long as he shall continue our regular pastor, 
and we shall remain in the bounds of the ConoTea;ation under his 
charge. Witness our hands, this first day of March, 1790. 



" James iyicConal, . . 


- £1 


10s. Orf. 


John Sher'ror, .... 


. £ 7s. 6rf. 


George Thomson, . . 




15 


James Leslie, .... 


7 6 


Robert Wallace, . . 


2 





John Grey, 


7 6 


James McCleeiy, . . 




15 


William Bell, .... 


1 


James Gait, .... 


2 


5 
10 


David Jenkins, . . . 
John Jenkins, .... 


.400 


Alexander Martin, . 


. . 1 


2 


Henry Hambright, 


. . 1 


15 


James Calderwood, . 


3 9 


Alexander Mellvain, 


. . 1 


2 G 


William Brison, 


5 


John McColIom, . . 




7 6 


Hannah Kittera, . . . 


15 


Hugh Quin, .... 




7 6 
7 6 


William Wilson, . 
Robert Jenkins, . . . . 


I n 


John Kirteiton, 




15 


John McCleery, . . 




7 6 


Nathan Evans and Son, 


10 0" 



The whole amount subscribed was tAventy-four pounds, thirteen 
shillings, and ninepence, which, in Pennsylvania currency, was 
si.xty-five dollars and eighty-three cents. Among the names ap- 
pended to this instrument, many of you recognise those of your 
fathers. 

Seven months after the date of this paper, a congregational 
meeting was held in the church of Pequea, for the purpose of 
increasing Dr. Smith's salary. A promissory note was drawn, 
dated October 2d, 1790, signed by the trustees, and sealed by 
the corporate seal, in which the Congregation engaged to give 
annually the sum of two hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty- 
six cents, to the Rev. Robert Smith, as a compensation for his 
ministerial services. On the records of the trustees we find the fol- 
lowing minute, under the date of October 18th, 1790 : " The note 



14 

was delivered to the Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, who received it for 
the use therein-mentioned, thereby testifying his wilKngness to 
continue in his pastoral oflBce, in and over the Congregation, to 
the great satisfaction of the people.'' "We learn from the Records 
of Presbytery, that, at a meeting of that body, held in the church 
of Pequea, August 14th, 1782, Dr. Smith, on account of pecuniary 
embarrassment, made application for the dissolution of the pas- 
toral relation between him and his charge. Through the earnest 
remonstrance of Mr. Thomas Kittera, the representative of the 
session, the Presbytery concluded to defer complying with the 
request of Dr. Smith, until their next meeting. The difficulty 
arose principally from the depreciation of the Continental currency 
at this time, which pressed hard on all those who lived on fixed 
salaries. The unsettled condition of the country, on account of 
the recent war, and the general disposition to emigrate westward, 
also withdrew from the church, at this period, some of her prin- 
cipal supporters. At a meeting of Presbytery held at White 
Clay Creek, April 27th, 1784, the Congregation informed that 
body that an arrangement had been made to compensate Dr. Smith 
for some of his losses in the depreciation of the currency, and 
also to give him annually four hundred bushels of wheat. Dr. 
Smith, with much reluctance, consented to this arrangement. At 
length, in 1790, the worshippers in the Cedar Grove Church, 
adding their subscription of sixty-five dollars and eighty-three 
cents, and the congregation of Pequea presenting him the pro- 
missory note of two hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six 
cents, as the annual compensation for his labors among them, 
the difilculty seems to have been entirely adjusted. 

His salary at the two churches, now, amounted to three hun- 
dred and thirty-two dollars and forty-nine cents. Three years 
after this, this devoted servant of his Divine Master Avas removed 
from the field in which he had so long labored ; doubtless, to take 
possession of his crown in heaven. His ashes repose in the 
churchyard of Pequea. 

Let us pause for a moment, and take a view of the character 
of the church, at this early period. The first that demands our 
attention is the pastor. Dr. Robert Smith. He was born in 1723. 
He is mentioned, by Dr. Alexander, among the number of those, 



15 

■u-lio received their education at the Log College, at Neshaminy ; 
and also, as one who was particularly interested in the establish- 
ment of Princeton College. About 1748, he was married to 
Miss Elizabeth, sister of the Rev. Messrs. Samuel and John 
Blair. At the age of twenty-eight, he was installed the pastor 
of the church of Pequea. This was in the year 1751. 

From the Records of Presbytery we learn, that during the 
first eight years of his pastoral labors in the church of Pequea, 
part of his time was appropriated to the church of Leacock. At a 
meeting of Presbytery, held June 5, 1759, the following minute 
was recorded : " A supplication from Leacock congregation, re- 
questing the half of Mr. Robert Smith's (their present pastor) 
labors, was brought in and read; but, as there is no commissioner 
from Pequea present, and that congregation is nearly concerned 
in this affair, the consideration of it is deferred to our next." 
At a meeting of Presbytery, held at Pequea, October 30, 1759, 
it was^decided, that the interest of religion, and the condition of 
Dr. Smith's health required " his stated labor to be confined 
wholly to Pequea." How much of his time had been appro- 
priated to the church of Leacock, we are not informed ; but from 
the above minute we infer, that it was less than one-half. At 
this meeting of Presbytery, his pastoral relation with that church 
was dissolved. 

February 19, 1777, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith departed this life, at 
the age of fifty-two years. Her mortal remains were laid in the 
churchyard of Pequea. She died, leaving her husband the 
father of five sons, viz. : Samuel Stanhope, John Blair, William, 
Ebenezer, and Robert ; and one daughter, called Nancy. 

About 1780, he was united in marriage to his second wife, 
Mrs. Sarah, widow of the Rev. Mr. Ramsay, who was a brother 
of Dr. Ramsay, the historian. Mrs. Ramsay was formerly Miss 
Sealy, of Cohocksing, West Jersey. After his marriage to this 
lady, another daughter was added to the number of his children ; 
to whom they gave the name of Elizabeth. This account I re- 
ceived from a daughter of the Rev. John Carmichael ; who is, 
also, a grand-niece of the Rev. Dr. Smith. 

Dr. Smith continued his pastoral charge over this church forty- 
two years ; and died, at the age of seventy, among those who had 



16 

grown up under his ministry. As a servant of Jesus Christ, he 
was faithful to his charge, and faithful to the great Head of the 
Church. He studied to show himself " approved unto God, a work- 
man that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word 
of truth." Many of his sermons have been published ; and all 
bear the impress of deep reflection and ardent piety. It was not 
unusual for him to become so absorbed in thought, that his atten- 
tion was withdrawn from everything around him. If he hap- 
pened to be in this state of mind while riding, he observed none 
who met him on the way. Sometimes, his horse would pause and 
graze on the roadside, until his master had finished his contem- 
plation. This abstracted state of mind was doubtless encouraged, 
by the many solitary rides he was obliged to take, over the Welsh 
Mountain, in the performance of his pastoral duties. 

Not only was he a faithful and eminent divine, but also, an 
able and successful teacher. He sustained a classical and theolo- 
gical institution of the highest character. His school was held 
in the house where Mr. John Sweigart now resides ; about luxlf a 
mile north of the church of Pequea. Of this house and farm. 
Dr. Smith was, at that time, the proprietor. In order to accom- 
modate the students who resorted to this place of learning, a 
large addition was built to the house ; which, being of more 
perishable material than the original stone structure, has long 
since yielded to the destructive influence of time. In this house 
was born his first son, Samuel Stanhope, March 16, 1750 ; about 
the time he was installed over this congregation. At this Insti- 
tution was laid the foundation of the eminence to which the 
Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith, D.D., afterwards arrived, as the 
first president of Hampden Sidney College in Virginia, and the 
immediate successor of Dr. Witherspoon as president of Princeton 
College. In this retired spot, was also born and educated Dr. 
Robert Smith's second son, John Blair, who succeeded his brother, 
as president of Hampden Sidney, and was, afterwards, the first 
president of Union College in Schenectady. Under the ministry 
of the Rev. John Blair Smith, D.D., in Virginia, commenced a 
powerful and extensive revival ; the influence of which, extended 
far and wide through that State, and also to North Carolina and 
Kentucky. Here was also born and educated the third son, 



17 

William ; wlio did not, indeed, become so much distinguished as 
his brothers ; but was, nevertheless, a pious and judicious minister 
of the gospel. In the words of Dr. Alexander : " His good old 
father was wont to say, that though William was inferior to his 
brothers in learning and eloquence, yet to comfort and edify the 
plain Christian, he was equal to either of them." Besides the 
sons of Dr. Robert Smith, many others, who afterwards arrived 
to eminence and occupied positions of great usefulness, received 
their classical or theological education at this Institution. From 
this school of the prophets, in this retired spot, went out an in- 
fluence that was deeply felt in the kingdom of Satan, and caused 
angels to rejoice. 

Among the teachers who assisted Dr. Robert Smith, Avas Mr, 
James Waddell ; afterwards the distinguished blind preacher of 
Virginia. To delineate the character of the eloquence of the 
Rev. Dr. Waddell, the late Hon. William Wirt wrote that inimi- 
table piece of composition, called " The Blind Preacher." 

After discharging, until the age of seventy, the pastoral duties 
of the church of Pequea, Dr. Smith was suddenly called away 
from the midst of his labors. He had been in Philadelphia, 
attending an ecclesiastical meeting ; and had returned on Satur- 
day, as far as Rockville, Chester County. On Sabbath morning, 
he left this place to go to his church ; but that sacred desk, in 
which he had so often led in the service of the sanctuary, was no 
more to be occupied by him. That familiar voice, which had 
fallen every Sabbath, for nearly half a century, on the ears of 
his people, was no longer to be heard by them. His Master de- 
manded his service in another sphere. The Lord was about to 
take him. As the congregation of the Forks of Brandywine 
were assembling for worship, they found him lying on the road- 
side, and his faithful horse standing beside him. He was removed 
to the house of William Hunter, Esq., an elder of the church of 
the Forks of Brandywine, where, in a few days, he died. This 
account I received from a daughter of Elder William Hunter, 
who was present when he died at her father's house. 

His remains were brought to his dwelling at Pequea, and in- 
terred in the churchyard, beside the ashes of his departed wife. 

A pastor's grave is always an interesting spot to,the congrega- 



18 

tion over Avhich lie had presided. Tender associations cannot 
fail to arise in the mind as they gaze on the earth that lies upon 
his bosom, and remember, that in that bosom, a heart once beat 
in anxious solicitude for their best welfare. But, when the vene- 
rated lips of the pastor, who has faithfully and ardently labored 
forty-two years, in the same congregation, are sealed in death, 
and his gray hairs are loAvered into the earth by those whom he 
has received into the church, baptized, instructed, comforted in 
affliction, and led in the paths of peace — it is no indication of 
weakness for the heart to melt, and tears of the deepest sorrow 
to fall upon that grave. Such was the scene at the burial of 
Dr. Smith. 

On a plain marble slab that covers the spot where his bones 
repose, is the following inscription : 

To the Memory 

of the 

Rev. ROBERT SMITH, D.D., 

who departed this life, 

April 15, 1793, 

in the 7 1st year of his age : 

Forty-two years pastor of the 

Presbyterian Church of 

Pequea. 

He was a faithful, eminent, and successful divine ; 

Long at the head of a Public Seminary. 

A great joart of the Clergy of this State, 

received the elements of their education, 

Or 

perfected their Theological studies, 

under his direction. 

Beneath this monument sleeps a 

Father in Israel. 

On this marble slab is thus recorded for posterity, in a few 
words, the history of this good man. It is a mere statement of 
prominent facts. Less could not, in justice, be said ; more, need 
not. Truly, a father in Israel sleeps beneath that stone. Forty- 
two years he had preached at Pequea, ten at the Run, and eight 
at Cedar Grove. 

Among the mourners around his grave, was his second wife. 
A few days after his interment, a congregational meeting was 



19 

held, at which it was " unanimously resolved, that the trustees 
pay to Mrs. Sarah Smith, widow and relict of Dr. Smith, late 
pastor of this church, one hundred and thirty-three dollars and 
thirty-three cents ; as a donation from the congregation, in testi- 
mony of that esteem and respect, justly due to singular merit." 
This meeting was held May 6, 1793. 

The only elder at this early period, on this side of the mountain, 
was Mr. Thomas Kittera. He resided in the Conestoga Valley, 
on the property now in the possession of Mr. Amos Kinzer. On 
the Records of Presbytery, we find his name mentioned as " the 
representative of the session," at a meeting held at Pequea, Au- 
gust 14, 1782. He departed this life, October 22, 1782, aged 
sixty years and eight months His remains were interred in the 
churchyard of Pequea. The time of his ordination to the elder- 
ship we have no means of ascertaining ; but, from the Minutes 
of Presbytery, we learn that he served in this sacred oflBce while 
the church held her meetings at the Run. He was most proba- 
bly instrumental in its establishment at this place. He is said 
to have been a faithful and efficient elder, and devoted Christian. 
He was the father of the late Hon. John Kittera, an eminent 
jurist in Philadelphia. 

One of the most pious men of the cburch, in this vicinity, in 
the days of Dr. Smith, was Mr. Thomas Gait. His grandfather, 
Mr. Robert Gait, emigrated from Ireland to this country at some 
period between 1700 and 1710. He landed at Wilmington, 
Delaware. Leaving his family there, he directed his course west- 
ward ; and came to a place where a large spring poured forth its 
waters. He determined to make this spot his home. This land 
is in Salisbury township, and is now in the possession of Thomas 
G. Henderson, Esq. The spring is about three-quarters of a 
mile south of Pequea Church. Mr. Gait, having fixed upon this 
spot, returned to Wilmington for his family ; but when he came 
back to the land of his adoption, he could not, in the midst of 
the wild forest, discover the place. At length he came upon a 
piece of ground, well watered ; and this he took, as a substitute 
for the one after which he was searching. This is the land, now 
in the possession of Mr. William Gait and John Robinson, Esq., 
elders of the Church of Pequea. 



20 

Mr. Robert Gait was one of the earliest immigrants to that 
portion of the Pequea Valley ; and was one of the founders of the 
Presbyterian Church of Pequea. A short time after his arrival, 
his wife departed this life ; and as there was no church or grave- 
yard within the distance of many miles, he buried her on his 
farm. This is the origin of the grave-yard near the house of 
Mr. William Gait. When Mr. Robert Gait immigrated to that 
valley, he brought with him his son James ; who was afterwards 
united in marriage to Miss Alison, and in 1720 became the father 
of Thomas Gait. 

Having arrived at the period of manhood, Mr. Thomas Gait 
travelled westward, and settled on the banks of the Conodogui- 
nett, within two miles of the place where now stands the village 
of Newville, Cumberland County, of this State. Here he re- 
mained until 1757, two years after the memorable defeat of 
General Braddock. At this time, while the Avar between the 
English and French colonists was waging, the dwelling of Mr. 
Thomas Gait was attacked by Indians. He would have shared 
the fate of many others in that valley, had he not anticipated 
their attack. Leaving his stock and furniture, he and his family 
fled on horseback, and came to the banks of the Conestoga, in 
East Earl township, where one of his grandsons, Alexander Gait, 
now resides. Here he remained until June 30, 1779 ; at Avhich 
time he was gathered to the tomb of his fathers, at the age of 
fifty-nine years. 

Mr. Thomas Gait, like his ancestors, was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church. Twenty-two years he attended the preach- 
ing of Dr. Smith at Pequea, and four at the Run. He was a 
bright example of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. He was emi- 
nently a man of prayer. While engaged in the ordinary business 
of farming, on the banks of the Conestoga, his mind seemed to 
be in constant communion with God. Unconscious of the pre- 
sence of others, his lips moved and gave utterance to the pious 
feelings of his soul. He was regarded by his neighbors with 
great respect, on account of his ardent piety ; and if his crop of 
grain was, at any time, superior to theirs, they attributed it to 
the influence of his prayers, which they said were ofiered from 
every portion of his farm. This is a well-known fact, and is a 



21 

striking instance of the respect paid by the world to true and 
fervent piety. 

While Dr. Smith Avas drawing near to the close of his earthly 
labors, Providence was preparing you a pastor, on the other side 
of the Atlantic. The Rev. William Arthur, the successor of Dr. 
Smith, was born in April, 1769, in the south of Scotland, in the 
town of Peebles. He received a classical education at Edinburgh, 
and was ordained to the gospel ministry at Paisley. In 1791, he 
was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Gcmmill of Kilmarnock. 
In 1793, the same year in which Dr. Smith died, he sailed for 
this country, and landed in New York. In that city, he assisted, 
for a few months, his distinguished cousin, the Hev. John M. 
Mason, D.D. After this, he supplied a congregation in Albany. 
From thence he came to Pennsylvania, and October, 7, 1795, was 
received from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, as a member of the 
Presbytery of New Castle. Three years after the death of Dr. 
Smith, he was installed the pastor of Pequea. The committee 
appointed to perform that duty, met January 5, 1796. The Rev. 
Nathan Grier preached the sermon from Ezekiel iii. 17 : " Son of 
man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel : 
therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from 
me." The Rev. Mr. Mitchel presided, and gave the charges to the 
pastor and people. Mr. Arthur labored in this field above twenty- 
two years. May 1, 1818, his pastoral relation with this congre- 
gation was dissolved. After this, he preached a few months in 
Lancaster, and occasionally supplied his former charge. In 1819, 
he removed to Cincinnati; and while there, was attacked with 
an affection of the eye, by which he partially lost his sight. In 
1825, he left Cincinnati, and went to Zanesville. At his resi- 
dence near this place, he was attacked with hemorrhage from the 
lungs ; of which, in February, 1827, he died. 

Mr. Arthur was a zealous, evangelical preacher. His sermons 
were generally very short, but full of thought. It has been 
often remarked, that few could condense as much matter within 
the same space. At a certain time, a bill to abolish capital pun- 
ishment was brought before the legislature, then in session, in 
Lancaster. Mr. Arthur preached a sermon to that body, and 
discussed the subject of the bill. His discourse occupied but 



00 



half an hour ; and yet the arguments for the negative were pre- 
sented so clearly and fully, that through his influence, it is said, 
the bill scarcely met with any support. 

He possessed good common sense as well as deep learning ; 
and was, especially, remarkable for his firmness of character. 
He was not afraid to rebuke sin wherever he met with it, whether 
in the higher or lower walks of life. Even a stranger in the 
highway, who uttered in his presence a profane word, was sure 
to be rebuked ; and sometimes, in the most decisive manner. On 
a certain occasion, while passing a teamster, who was swearing 
at his horses, and commanding his leader to go to the place pre- 
pared for Satan, Mr. Arthur rode up to him and in a solemn 
and decisive manner, said : " John, hell was not made for horses, 
but for such wicked hearts as yours." 

The following incident, I received from Mr. William Gait, elder 
of the church of Pequea ; and as it illustrates the character of 
the pastor, and shows the impunity with which the Sabbath was 
violated in those early days, I will take the liberty of narrating 
it. One Sabbath morning, Mr. Arthur wished to cross the Welsh 
Mountain, to preach in the Cedar Grove Church. He could not 
use his own horse on that occasion, and consequently obtained 
the loan of one, from the father of Mr. William Gait. Mr. 
Arthur was fond of riding a good horse, and Mr. Gait gave him 
a spirited, blooded animal ; which in former days, had been ac- 
customed to the chase. As Mr. Arthur was returning in the 
evening from church, he heard the sound of dogs following the 
trail of a fox. As he began to ascend the mountain, he met the 
huntsmen (persons in the higher walks of life), waiting for the 
hounds on the roadside. He rode up to them and began to rebuke 
them, in his decided manner, for breaking the Lord's day. At 
this moment the hounds, on the trail, past them ; and the hunts- 
men, not relishing the conversation of Mr. Arthur, blew their 
horns and darted off after their dogs. The horse on which Mr. 
Arthur rode, seemed to have suddenly called to remembrance 
the scenes "of the days of other years ;" and in spite of all the 
efforts and remonstrances of his rider, leaped after the dogs. A 
Gilpin race now ensued, through the midst of the dense forest, 
at the imminent risk of fracturing the skull of the rider ; until. 



23 

after travelling five miles in that condition, the horse allowed him- 
self to be reined in. Mr. Arthur now returned to his dwelling, 
exhausted by his ride, and with any other than pleasant associa- 
tions. A few days after this, one of the huntsmen met an elder 
of the church, and as soon as he came up to him, he exclaimed : 
" Your preacher is one of the best riders in this part of the 
country. Last Sunday, we were out after a fox, and he joined 
in with us ; but he could beat us all. Every leap of his horse 
•was at the heels of the dogs." 

Those days required decided men, to stand forth in defence of 
the law of God ; for wickedness stalked abroad in high and low 
places. 

During the period of Mr. Arthur's pastoral charge over the 
church of Pequea, the Cedar Grove Church received one-fourth 
of his time, and paid one-fourth of his salary. He received 
from the two churches, four hundred dollars. It appears, from 
his last receipt, that fifty dollars per annum were added to his 
salary, during the last four years of his labors among them. 
The supporters of the Cedar Grove church at the time Mr. 
Arthur became their pastor, are known from a subscription 
paper, dated October 1, 179G; on Avhich are the following 
names : James Thomson, James Gait, Henry Hambright, Joseph 
McCleery, John McCleery, David Norton, John Craford, Jacob 
Linton, James Vogan, Samuel Linton, John McConaughy, John 
McCollom, John Wallace, Alexander jMcIlvain, Martha Wallace, 
Alexander Martin, Alexander Storey, Joseph Martin, Samuel 
Martin, William Martin, John Kilpatrick, John Gray, Nathan 
Evans, William Price, LcAvis Wilmar, James Kilpatrick, David 
Jenkins, John Jenkins, Robert Jenkins, Thomas Jenkins, Samuel 
Laferty, John Huston, James Davis, Edward Dehaven, James 
McCleery, John Showaltcr, Abraham LaAv, John Ray, James 
McElroy, William Buchanan, William Evans, John Sturges, 
James Kasky, Hannah Kittera, William Brison, Robert Peoples. 
The whole amount subscribed in this paper, was ^41, 9 shillings, 
or one hundred and ten dollars and fifty-three cents. 

Among a number of documents received through the kindness 
of John Robinson, Esq., elder of Pequea Church, we discover on 
a single sheet of paper the records of two meetings of Session. 
One was held on June 10th, 1806, and the other on June 12th, 



24 

1809. These are the only Sessional Records' extant, until the 
period of the installation of the present pastor, the Rev. John 
Wallace. On that paper are recorded the names of the elders at 
that time. These were Messrs. James Hannah, Amos Slaymaker, 
James Grier, William Brisben, John Whitehill, William Boyd, 
George Thomson, and James Gait. The two last-mentioned 
resided in the Conestoga Valley, and were ordained to the elder- 
ship at the same time. Mr. George Thomson is said to have 
been a pious and worthy elder, who faithfully endeavored to dis- 
charge the responsible duties devolving upon him. 

When speaking of the Cedar Grove Church, while under the 
pastoral charge of Dr. Smith, we referred to the piety of one of 
her members, Mr. Thomas Gait, who died June oOth, 1779. 
Among the mourners that followed his body to the grave, was his 
son James, a young man of twenty-two years of age. James was 
born in 1757, near the time at which his parents fled from the 
Indians on the banks of the Conodoguinett, to the Conestoga Val- 
ley. He had been trained by the pious precepts and example of 
his father, to tread in his steps. He took his father's place at 
the family altar, and in the church. He and Mr. George Thom- 
son were elected to the eldership in 1796 ; a short time after 
Mr. Arthur had been installed their pastor. Like his father, 
Mr. Gait was a man of prayer ; and, like Nathaniel under the 
fig-tree, he had a place of prayer. Into a deep quarry, near his 
house, he regularly retired, to pour forth the feelings of his soul 
to God. The following incident I received from his daughter. 
On one occasion, when the hand of affliction was laid upon their 
mother, and her life was in danger, he took his children to this 
secluded spot, and, after communing with God in prayer, he told 
them of the frequency with which he had repaired to this place, 
to plead for them at the throne of grace. He was emphatically 
a Bible student. Several entire books of the Scriptures he had 
committed to memory. It was difficult to mention a text to 
which he could not immediately refer. To his family and friends 
he was a living concordance of the Scriptures. 

His influence on the surrounding neighborhood was salutary. 
In those early days, the Sabbath was awfully desecrated. At a 
grist-mill in his vicinity, the proprietor was accustomed to grind 



25 

all day on the Sal3bath. This mill Mr. Gait was obliged to pass 
on his way to church at Peqiiea, and at Cedar Grove. So much 
respect did they pay to this good man, that they invariably 
stopped the mill as he drew near, and ceased to grind until he 
was out of sight. Like his pastor, Mr. Arthur, he never failed 
to remonstrate with Sabbath-breakers whenever he met them. 
As, with conscious guilt, they fled from his presence, he often 
inquired why they feared him more than they feared the Omniscient 
God ? On one occasion, a lad came with a bag of grain to his mill 
on Sabbath morning. The young man was not acquainted with 
the character of Mr. Gait, or he never would have done it. Mr. 
Gait began, immediately after his arrival, to reprimand him, and 
the boy, to get out of the difficulty, replied that his master sent 
him. " How, then," says Mr. Gait, " can your master expect to 
go to heaven, when he encourages you to break God's holy day ?" 
" Oh, sir," says the lad, who wished to bring the conversation as 
soon as possible to an end, " oh, sir, my master is not going there." 
Perhaps, indeed, it was true ; — a fearful thought. 

At last this worthy elder, in a good old age, was called away 
from the sanctuary on earth, we trust, to that in heaven. He 
died as we should suppose such a man would die. When the 
time of his last illness arrived, he gave up all his temporal affairs 
into the hands of his family, retired to his chamber, made no 
inquiry concerning what was going on around him, seemed to be 
constantly absorbed in the prospect that lay before him, and, in 
a few days, fell asleep in Jesus Christ. He died October 7th, 
1821, at the age of sixty-four years. He united with the church 
in 1779, and was ordained to the eldership in 1796. He was a 
member forty-two years, an elder about twenty-five years, and 
departed this life just six months after the Rev. Amzi Babbit was 
installed pastor of this church. The property on which he lived 
is now in the hands of his son Alexander, a member of this 
church. On his decease, he left to his family six hundred acres 
of land in the immediate vicinity of the homestead. 

Among those who possessed more than ordinary piety at this 
period of our history, Ave may mention the name of James Vogan, 
the father of the present proprietor of the family mansion at 
Yoganville. He was characterized by meekness, kindness, and 



26 

a forgiving spirit, which, sanctified by religion, rendered him 
peculiarly amiable. He died in 1824. 

The Kev. Amzi Babbit, the successor of Mr. Arthur, was born 
near Mendham, in New Jersey, September 3d, 1795. He received 
a classical education at Princeton College, and was finally licensed 
by the New Castle Presbytery to preach the gospel. On the first 
Sabbath of July, 1820, he preached for the first time in the 
church of Pequea, from Luke 10 : 42 ; and, in the afternoon, at 
Cedar Grrove, from Romans, 8 : 9. From this period, he regu- 
larly labored in this field until September 22d, at which time he 
received a call to become the pastor. April 5th, 1821, he was 
ordained and installed. In the performance of this duty, the 
Rev. Francis Latta presided, the Rev. Samuel Martin preached, 
and the Rev. Robert White delivered the charge to the pastor 
and people. Mr. Babbit was installed over this field three 
years after the resignation of his predecessor, Mr. Arthur. He 
maintained his pastoral relation with this church until the autumn 
of 1831. On the fourth Sabbath of October, he preached his 
farewell sermon from the following appropriate text, Philippians, 
2 : 12-13 : " Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, 
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, 
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is 
God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good 
pleasure." 

After leaving this field of labor, he supplied a Presbyterian 
church in Salem, New Jersey. From thence he removed to Phi- 
ladelphia, and took charge of a congregation. His health, at 
last, beginning to decline, he relinquished this charge. After 
this, he served as an agent for difi"erent societies — the Tract, the 
Colonization, and Union Benevolent ; in all of which he was very 
successful. At length he contracted a severe catarrh, which re- 
sulted in a most rapidly fatal attack of bronchitis. He died in 
Philadelphia, November 14, 1845; and was interred at the King- 
sessing Church, about six miles from the city. 

Mr. Babbit was a popular preacher. His sermons were, gene- 
rally, characterized by sound reasoning. 

He was pastor of the Church of Pequea ten years and six 
months. He was ordained to the gospel ministry and installed, 



27 

April 5, 1821 ; and the pastoral relation was dissolved, October, 
1831. Six years after he had taken the charge of this congre- 
gation, the Cedar Grove Church edifice, which had been built in 
178G, was taken down, and the present house erected, of the 
same stone, and on the same foundation. The building commit- 
tee consisted of Messrs. John Wallace, John Martin, and George 
Sheafer. It was dedicated to the worship of God in the autumn 
of 1827. Previous to this, the Cedar Grove Church received 
only one-fourth of the labor of her pastor ; now she paid half his 
salary, and obtained half his time. He received from the two 
churches five hundred dollars. 

In the spring of 1820, the Cedar Grove Church established 
her Sabbath School. This was two years after the organization 
of the Sunday School Union. This school w^as among the first 
in this Presbytery, and was for several years connected Avith 
the Sunday School Union. It was established by Elder James 
Gait, Messrs. Hugh Thomson, John Davies, Davies Wallace, the 
Misses Elizabeth Kibler, Mary A. Kibler, Sarah Davies, Harriet 
AYallace, Mrs. Margaret Ellmaker, and Mrs. Mary Ann Jacobs. 
From that time to the present, it has been continued in the 
church. 

Two years before the organization of this school, one of a 
similar character was commenced at Churchtown, through the 
instrumentality of an aged member of this church, INIiss Phebe 
Carmichael, of Windsor. It was regularly maintained for several 
years, principally, by the ladies of Windsor. 

June 10, 1832, a Sabbath School was begun at Mount Pleasant, 
about two miles east of this church ; and was taught in the after- 
noon. It was superintended by Miss Phebe Ann Jenkins, who 
Avas assisted in her duties by the ladies of Windsor, and other 
members of the Cedar Grove Church. We learn from the diary 
of Miss Elizabeth Kibler, one of the teachers, that the first day 
the number of scholars was 30 ; the second, 79. 

In the autumn of 1826, five years after the death of Elder 
James Gait, his son Thomas, in a severe spell of fever, gave his 
heart to God. When he recovered from his illness, he resolved 
to dedicate himself to the service of his Divine Master, in the 
gospel ministry. Having received a classical and theological 



28 

education, he was licensed in 1835, to preach the gospel. He is 
now the pastor of a Presbyterian church in Sangamon County, 
Illinois. 

After the dissolution of the pastoral relation between the Rev. 
Amzi Babbit and his charge, Presbytery supplied the pulpits of 
Pequea and Cedar Grove, two years. September 9, 1833, a con- 
gregational meeting was held in the Church of Pequea in the 
forenoon, and in the Church of Cedar Grove in the afternoon, for 
the purpose of electing a pastor. The Rev. John Wallace was 
unanimously elected ; and on November 5, 1833, was ordained 
and installed. Mr. Wallace still maintains his pastoral relation 
with the Church of Pequea. 

Here, we dismiss the history of the mother church. The 
daughter has grown to that maturity, which enables her to exist 
alone. 

In the spring of 1839, a meeting of the congregation of Cedar 
Grove was held in the church edifice, at which Elder Edward De- 
haven presided, for the purpose of taking into consideration the 
propriety of petitioning Presbytery, to organize them as a dis- 
tinct church. The Presbytery granted their request to become 
a separate organization ; and appointed a committee, to meet in 
their church, June 18, 1839, for the pvirpose of discharging this 
duty. The committee consisted of Rev. J. N. C. Grier, Rev. 
Joseph Barr, and Rev. Alfred Hamilton. In the morning of the 
same day on which the above committee met, the session of the 
Pequea Church was convened at Cedar Grove, to give certificates 
of dismission to those of her members who wished to unite with 
the church, about to be organized. The members of the session, 
who were present on that occasion, were Rev. John Wallace, and 
Elders Edward Dehaven, John Wallace, John Robinson, John A. 
Harner, and Hugh Buchanan. 

The following members were accordingly dismissed, and or- 
ganized by the committee into a " separate, distinct church :" 
Elder Edward Dehaven, Elder John Wallace, Robert Jenkins, Ca- 
tharine Jenkins, Mary Jenkins, Phebe Carmichael, Davies Wallace, 
Mary Ann Wallace, Dr. Edward Wallace, Thomas Russell, Mary 
Russell, Eliza Russell, John Gait, William Gait, Alexander Gait, 
Frances Gait, Sarah M. Gait, Abraham Dehaven, Ann Dehaven, 



29 

Mary Dehaven, Ann E. Jack, William Martin, Jane Martin, Mar- 
garet Showalter, Henry Ranck, Margaret Ranek, John McCo- 
naughy, David Norton, George Sheafer, Catharine Sheafer, and 
Elizabeth Kibler. The number of members thus dismissed from 
the Church of Pequea, to constitute the Church of Cedar Grove, 
was thirty-one ; two of whom were ruling elders. All these re- 
sided in the Conestoga Valley ; the Welsh Mountain constituting 
the division between the two churches. 

The elders of the church thus organized, were Messrs. Edward 
Dehaven and John Wallace. 

Mr. Dehaven was born in 1770. We discover his name among 
the supporters of the Cedar Grove Church, as early as 1796. 
He was elected to the eldership in Pequea, about 1810. He did 
not take a decided stand, however, in recommending religion to 
the world around him, until twelve years after his ordination. 
At this period the Holy Spirit seems to have exercised a power- 
ful influence over his mind. He immediately erected the family 
altar, and commenced the faithful discharge of all the private 
and public duties of the Christian. Many are still living, who 
bear testimony that a more humble and faithful disciple of Jesus 
Christ was not to be found in the church in his day. The Rev. 
Alfred Nevin, who had been five years his pastor, and was, 
during that time, his neighbor in the village of Churchtown, and 
had every opportunity of knowing his character, thus remarks in 
a communication to the author of this sketch. " Mr. Dehaven 
was a man of I'emarkable piety. His disposition, which was vio- 
lent in his youth, was a striking exemplification, after his conver- 
sion, of what the gospel can do, with the Spirit's blessing, to 
subdue and chasten. He was eminently characterized by meek- 
ness, faith, tenderness, and a prayerful spirit. He was emphati- 
cally a living epistle — read and understood and felt, by the whole 
community in which he lived." He departed this life, February 
2, 1846 ; aged seventy-six years. His ashes repose in the church- 
yard of Pequea. Thirty-six years he served as a ruling elder in 
the church. 

The only elder associated with Mr. Dehaven, in the newly organ- 
ized church, was Mr. John Wallace. The ancestors of Mr. Wal- 
lace came from Scotland, and settled in this part of the Conestoga 



30 

Valley. He was born in 1769, and united with the church while 
under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Dr. Smith. He was elected 
to the eldership in 1822 ; shortly after the Rev. Amzi Babbit's 
installation over this field. He has been a member of the con- 
gregation of Cedar Grove during all the changing scenes through 
which she has passed, to the present day. In 1775, when a boy, 
he heard the gospel preached by Dr. Smith at the Run, beside 
his father's house. In 1786, he assisted in hauling the stones 
with which the first church edifice was built, amid the grove of 
cedars. Five years he served as a ruling elder, while the old 
church edifice was in existence. He was one of the building 
committee, who erected the present house, in 1827. He has re- 
gularly and acceptably served, in the eldership, above thirty-one 
years ; and although the infirmities of age are rapidly stealing 
over him, he is still allowed, by kind Providence, to linger in 
our midst. 

Shortly after the Cedar Grove Church was organized, an elec- 
tion was held for the purpose of adding two more members to the 
eldership. This was early in the autumn of 1839. The persons 
elected and ordained to this sacred office were, Messrs. Abraham 
Dehaven and John Gait. Mr. Abraham Dehaven is a brother 
of Elder Edward Dehaven ; and Mr. John Gait is a son of Elder 
James Gait. The Session, at this time, consisted of Messrs. 
Edward Dehaven, John Wallace, Abraham Dehaven, and John 
Gait. 

For the space of one year from its organization, the pulpit of 
the Cedar Grove Church was supplied by Presbytery. 

On the third Sabbath of ]\Iay, 1840, the Rev. Alfred Nevin 
preached, for the first time, in this house. From this period he 
regularly labored in this field, until the first Tuesday in Decem- 
ber ; at which time he was ordained to the gospel ministry, and 
installed their first pastor. In the performance of this duty, the 
Rev. Joseph Barr presided ; Rev. William W. Latta preached 
the sermon ; Rev. J. N. C. Grier delivered the charge to the 
pastor, and Rev. John Wallace to the people. 

The Rev. Alfred Nevin was born in Shippensburg, Cumber- 
land County, of this State, March 14, 1816. He graduated at 
Jefferson Colle2;e, and was admitted to the bar, as a student, from 



31 

the Law School of Dickinson College. After this, he studied 
theology in the Seminary at Allegheny ; and in April, 1840, was 
licensed by the Presbytery of Carlisle to preach the gospel. 
About one month after his licensure, he began to preach at Cedar 
Grove. In May, 1845, he delivered before this congregation his 
farewell discourse. He labored in this field five years. In 1845, 
at the earnest solicitation of the German Reformed Church of 
Chambersburg, he became their pastor ; and served them, with 
every evidence of attachment on their part, and with encouraging 
success, for seven years. In 1852, he resigned this charge ; and 
was called to the Second Presbyterian Church in the city of 
Lancaster, of which he is at present the pastor. 

In this connexion we may mention, that Mr. Nevin is the 
author of a work, entitled "Spiritual Progression," published in 
1848 ; and also of a " History of the Old Presbyterian Congre- 
gations of Cumberland and Franklin Counties, in Pennsylvania," 
published in 1852 : which have met with the approbation of the 
public. The latter work is regarded with deep interest by the 
churches whose history it delineates. 

On the Sessional Records of the Cedar Grove Church are found 
the names of thirty-one persons, received as members on exa- 
mination, and five on certificate, during the pastoral charge of 
Mr. Nevin. Among these, we observe the name of George "W. 
Simpson. Mr. Simpson was admitted, on examination, December 
5, 18411 After this, he determined to dedicate himself to the 
service of the Lord, in the gospel ministry. ^ With this intention, 
he received a classical education at Easton College, studied 
theology at Princeton, and was licensed by the Donegal Presby- 
tery to preach, June 12, 1849, he was ordained to the gospel 
ministry, with the view of laboring as a missionary, on the 
western coast of Africa. October 31, 1849, he sailed from New 
York ; and finally established, on the Island of Corisco, a mis- 
sionary station. Here he labored with encouraging success, until 
the spring of 1851. On the fifth day of April, while he and the 
partner of his joys and sorrows were sailing from Corisco to Fer- 
nando Po, they were caught in a gale, and buried beneath the 
dark waters. We trust they are now among the just made per- 
fect, around the throne of God. 



32 

On the Sessional Records we also observe the name of Watson 
Russell. He and Mr. Simpson were admitted to the church, on 
examination, the same day. Mr. Russell, also, resolved to de- 
vote himself to the service of his Divine Master, in the gospel 
ministry. With this intention, he was for some time a student 
of Easton College. October 26, 1851, he received a certificate 
of dismission from this church, to connect himself with the Ger- 
man Reformed Church at Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where he then 
resided. May 18, 1853, he was licensed by the Lebanon Classis 
to preach the gospel. 

Li the fall of 1843, a congregational meeting was held, for the 
purpose of adding one to the number of ruling elders. Mr. 
Thomas Russell was elected and ordained to this sacred office. 

April 13, 1844, Mr. John Gait, after having served in the 
eldership four years and six months, was dismissed to connect 
himself with a Presbyterian church in Illinois. 

Li October, 1845, the Rev. William Hunter was ordained and 
installed the pastor of the Cedar Grove church. He maintained 
this charge until April 1, 1849 ; at which time, the pastoral rela- 
tion was dissolved. Within this period, eighteen persons were 
added, on examination. 

March 9, 1846, this church was incorporated, under the title 
of the " Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church and Congregation, of 
Earl Township, Lancaster County." The trustees appointed by 
the charter, were Messrs. Davies Wallace, Alexander Gait, David 
Jenkins, Henry Ranch, and George Russell. 

August 19, 1846, the Presbyterian church in the village of 
Churchtown, Avas incorporated, under the title of the " Caernarvon 
Presbyterian Church of Lancaster County." The trustees ap- 
pointed by the charter, were Messrs. David Jenkins, William 
Shirk, Evan Rogers, John G. Robinson, and George Longaback. 

Let us now pause in the progress of our history, and trace the 
origin of the Caernarvon church. Among the earliest supporters 
of the Gospel, at Cedar Grove, we observe the name of Jenkins. 
On the subscription paper in 1790, for the purpose of obtaining 
one-fourth of Dr. Smith's services in the new church, we find the 
names of John, David, and Robert Jenkins. On the list of sub- 
scribers in 1796, to procure one-fourth of Rev. William Arthur's 



33 

labors, we observe the names of John, David, Robert, and Thomas 
Jenkins. From that day to the present, this name has always 
been associated with the contributors to, and members of, this 
church. 

In 1700, Mr. David Jenkins arrived in the city of Philadelphia, 
from Wales, and finally settled near the Great Valley Church. 
His son John, anxious to become acquainted with the resources 
of his adopted country, penetrates more deeply into the forest, 
and directs his course to the site on which the Windsor forges 
have since been erected. Mr. Jenkins put up a temporary dwell- 
ing near the spot where now stands the Windsor mansion ; and 
finally entered into contract with John, Thomas, and Richard 
Penn, for the purchase of four hundred acres of land. January 
10, 1733, this was surveyed by order of the govei-nment ; and 
the patent about to be taken, in the name of his son Jenkins 
Jenkins ; but for some reason, now unknown, the patent was 
never executed in form. Nine years after Mr. John Jenkins 
had purchased this land, he sold it to Mr. William Branson, of 
Philadelphia. Mr. Branson took out a patent, December 28, 
1742, erected the Windsor forges and mansion-house, and finally, 
sold all to Mr. David Jenkins, son of the original proprietor ; 
whence it descended to the Hon. Robert Jenkins, late husband 
of the present proprietor, Mrs. Catharine Jenkins. 

Mr. John Jenkins was not only one of the earliest supporters 
of the Gospel at Cedar Grove ; but must have been, also, one of 
the first members of the Church of Pequea. 

In 1842, while the Rev. Alfred Nevin had the pastoral charge 
of the Cedar Grove Church, the Hon. Robert Jenkins and the 
other surviving descendants of Mr. David Jenkins, residing in 
Churchtown, resolved on selecting a spot of ground, in their 
vicinity, to be set apart for the burial of their dead. The site 
for this purpose having been chosen, they, in connexion with 
others, erected on it a building in which the Presbyterians resid- 
ing in that village and vicinity, could have preaching, on Sab- 
bath afternoon, by the pastor of Cedar Grove. In 1843, the 
church, a neat stone structure, was completed, and dedicated to 
the worship of Almighty God. From that day to the present, 

3 



34 

Divine service has been regularly maintained in tliis house.' 
August 19, 1846, it was incorj)orated, under the title of the 
" Caernarvon Presbyterian Church, of Lancaster County." 

November 19, 1846, a deed of conveyance for eighty-six 
perches of land, was made to the corporation, by Robert and 
Catharine Jenkins, the proprietors of the tract on Avhich the 
church edifice was erected. December 22, 1846, a mortgage 
was given by the trustees, to Mrs. Catharine Jenkins, for the 
sum of six hundred and fifty-five dollars and seventy-three cents 
advanced, by her, for the completion of the house. 

One year and four months after the above transaction, the 
Hon. Robert Jenkins departed this life. His mortal remains 
were laid in the grave-yard of his own selection, and mingle with 
the earth, on that sacred spot, which he was instrumental in 
having dedicated to the worship of the Triune God. On a beau- 
tiful and expensive monument that covers the ground on which 
he lies, is the following inscription : 

ROBERT JENKINS, 

Great-grandson of David Jenkins ; 

Who emigrated from Wales, about the year 1700, 

Grandson of John Jenkins, 

Original proprietor of 

Windsor. 

Son of David and Martha Jenkins. 

Born at Windsor, July 10, 1769. 
Departed this life, April 18, 1848. 

We have now traced the history of the Cedar Grove Church, 
until she was placed under the care of the present pastor. In 
order that this sketch may be completed to the present day, it is 
necessary to mention that your pastor was born in this county, 
September 3, 1812. He received a classical education at Prince- 
ton College ; but, on account of hemorrhage from the lungs, was 
obliged to leave before the period of graduating. In the autumn 
of 1831, he united with the Presbyterian church of Leacock ; 
March 11, 1837, graduated at the Jefferson Medical College ; 
September 21, 1847, was licensed, by the Presbytery of Donegal, 
to preach the Gospel. From April to November, 1848, he preached 



35 

in the Presbyterian clinrcli of Annapolis, Maryland ; April 1, 
1849, commenced his labors in this Congregation ; October 31, 

1849, was ordained to the Gospel ministry, and installed pastor 
of this church. At the ordination, the Rev. William W. Latta 
presided, Rev. T. Marshall Boggs preached the sermon and de- 
livered the charge to the people, and Rev. Philip J. Timlow, 
the charge to the pastor. 

The Session, at this time, consisted of Messrs. John Wallace, 
Abraham Dehaven, and Thomas Russell. 

In the summer of 1849, the Lord was preparing the way for a 
gracious visitation to this church. An unusual degree of interest 
in the services of the sanctuary was evident, and seemed to indi- 
cate that the day of God's power was drawing near. On the 1st 
of November, the day succeeding that on which ^'our pastor was 
ordained, the influence of the Great Master over the hearts of 
the members of this church was such, that none could overlook 
the solemn fact, that the Lord had come to his sanctuary. Heart 
after heart was reached, and faithful and ardent prayer ascended 
to the throne of grace. The influence now spread among those 
who were out of Christ. Blinded eyes were opened, hearts were 
softened, the weight of sin was felt, and tears of penitence told 
what was goino; on within. 

The services were protracted for several days, with the assist- 
ance of Rev. T. Marshall Boggs, Rev. James Latta, and Rev. 
William W. Latta. A short time after this, twelve were rejoicing 
in hope of a blessed immortality. 

In looking back from the period of four years, on this revival, 
we may remark that it was not extensive, but it was powerful, 
and gave every evidence of being the work of the Holy Ghost. 
It did not, indeed, reach beyond the limits of the ordinary con- 
gregation, and only twelve were added to the church ; but its 
influence Avas deeply and permanently felt by those who had long 
been disciples of Jesus Christ, and can be traced even to the 
present day. 

Four months after this interesting period in the history of the 
church, the Congregation resolved to erect a manse, to be used 
as the residence of their pastor and his successors. In March, 

1850, a subscription for this purpose was commenced ; and, in 



36 

one year from this time, a neat two-storj building, in the vicinity 
of the chm'ch edifice, was completed, and occupied by the pastor. 
The building committee consisted of Messrs. John Martin, Davies 
Wallace, and Alexander Gait. February 19th, 1851, a deed of 
conveyance v^as made by John High, and Mary, his wife, to the 
corporation, for one hundred and five perches of land, the same 
on which the manse is erected. The amount paid for the lot was 
seventy-eight dollars and seventy-five cents. The whole expense 
in completing this undertaking was two thousand four hundred 
dollars. 

February 19th, 1851, a deed of conveyance was made by Elder 
John Wallace to the Congregation, for thirty-two perches of land 
adjoining the southern line of their churchyard. Mr. Wallace 
gave this in exchange for fifteen perches of the western end of 
the yard, for the purpose of giving it a better shape. Although 
the deed was executed at this time, the agreement between the 
parties had been made several years before. An iron railing has 
been placed in front of the house, in connexion with which is a 
stone wall, inclosing the ground. The wall and iron railing cost 
six hundred dollars. 

Three months after the erection of the manse had been under- 
taken, Mr. David Jenkins, the proprietor of the Windsor Forges, 
after a short illness, departed this life. Sadly we lowered him 
in the grave, beside the ashes of his father, feeling that the 
church had sustained a great loss in losing him. On a beautifully 
sculptured block of Italian marble, erected to his memory by his 
afi"ectionate and heart-stricken mother, is the following inscrip- 
tion : 

DAVID JENKINS, 

Son of Robert and Catharine Jenkins ; 

Born December Gth, 1800. 

Died May 2Gth, 1850. 

Urbane in his manners, classic in his taste, 

Refined in his feelings, a Christian in his principles. 

He was in life highly esteemed and tenderly beloved ; 

And in death, deeply and painfully lamented. 



37 

At his death, his aged mother, Mrs. Catharine Jenkins, became 
the proprietor of the Windsor Forge estate. In her early days, 
she had been a member of the family of Dr. Smith, and was his 
relative by the marriage of her father, the Rev. John Carmichael. 
She united with the Church of Pequea, while under his pastoral 
charge, and has attended the preaching of the Gospel at Cedar 
Grove through every period of its history. She was also espe- 
cially instrumental in the erection of the Church of Caernarvon. 
In order to perpetuate her influence in sustaining the Gospel in 
this vicinity, she resolved to make a donation to the churches in 
which she worshipped. September 18th, 1850, the trustees of 
the Cedar Grove and the trustees of the Caernarvon Church, 
met in the village of Churchtown to receive this donation. On 
this day she presented to the Cedar Grove Church, one thousand 
dollars, to be loaned on judgment or mortgage on real estate, and 
the annual proceeds to be appropriated towards the payment of 
the pastor's salary. At the same time, she also gave to the 
Church of Caernarvon one thousand dollars, to be loaned as above, 
and as much as is necessary of the annual proceeds to be used in 
keeping the churchyard inclosed by a substantial fence, and the 
balance towards the payment of the pastor's salary. The mort- 
gage given to her by the trustees of the Caernarvon Church, 
December 22d, 1846, for six hundred and fifty-five dollars and 
seventy-three cents, she also released on that occasion. 

After receiving the above donations, the trustees drew up arti- 
cles of trust, which they signed, sealed Avith the corporate seal, 
acknowledged, and delivered, together Avith a copy of the follow- 
ing resolutions, into the hands of Mrs. Catharine Jenkins. 

" Whereas, Mrs. Catharine Jenkins, of Windsor Forges, has 
this day, with great liberality, given into the hands of the trustees 
of the Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, of Earl Township, Lan- 
caster County, the sum of one thousand dollars, in trust ; and, 

" Whereas, she has also given into the hands of the Caernarvon 
Presbyterian Church, of Lancaster County, an equal sum of one 
thousand dollars, in trust, the annual income of Avhich said sums 
to be appropriated towards the maintenance of divine service in 



38 

the cliurches which we, the trustees thereof, represent, according 
to the specifications contained in the ' Declaration of Trust,' 
signed, sealed, and acknowledged hj us, this day ; and, 

"Whereas, the said Mrs. Catharine Jenkins has, most liberally, 
released all claim to, and for ever discharged, the said Caernarvon 
Presbyterian Church, from the payment of a mortgage held by 
her, on said church building, to the amount of six hundred and 
fifty-five dollars and seventy-three cents ; 

"Therefore, Resolved, that in behalf of the churches and con- 
gregations which we, the trustees thereof, represent this day, we 
tender the generous donor of the above sums, our sincere and 
heartfelt gratitude. 

" Resolved, that the thanks of these churches are especially 
due, on the present occasion ; inasmuch, as these liberal dona- 
tions will enable them, in connexion with their own contributions, 
to sustain a pastor. 

"Resolved, that we express the high gratification it affords us, 
to take charge of these funds, to aid in the maintenance of 
Divine service in our churches : one of which churches, the donor 
of these sums was especially instrumental in establishing ; and 
has worshipped in the other, as a member, for more than half a 
century. 

" Resolved, that we trust she shall not only be rewarded in this 
life by the consciousness of a sense of gratitude abiding in the 
hearts of the recipients of her kindness ; but, that she may also 
have the happiness, in heaven, of seeing these churches instru- 
mental, in the providence of God, in extending the Redeemer's 
kingdom ; and that it may be her privilege to welcome to these 
blissful regions, many chosen spirits of earth, long after the 
present scenes and the present generation shall have passed 
away. 

"Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be signed by all the 
trustees, of each of the aforesaid churches ; and a committee be 
appointed to present it to the generous donor of the sums above 
mentioned." 

Mr. Alexander Gait and B. F. Bunn, M. D., were appointed 



39 

on that committee ; and a copy of the above resokitions was 
presented hj them to Mrs. Catharine Jenkins, signed as 
follows : 

John Martin, 
Alexander Galt, 
Davies Wallace, 
George Wallace, 
Henry Range, 

Trustees of the Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, 

James McCaa, 
William Shirk, 
B. F. BuNN, 
Evan Rogers, 
Lot Rogers, 

Trustees of the Caernarvon Presbyterian Church. 

At a meeting of the Session of the Cedar Grove Church, held 
December 26, 1852, it was resolved to add two more members to 
the eldership. After due notice a congregational meeting was 
held, January 8, 1853, and Messrs. George Russell and Henry 
Ranck Avere elected. The former was ordained and installed, 
January 23 ; and the latter, February 13, 1853. The Session 
at present consists of JMessrs. John Wallace, Abraham Dehaven, 
Thomas Russell, Henry Ranck, and George Russell. 

About the middle of January, 1853, the congregation resolved 
to repair and remodel the Cedar Grove Church edifice. On the 
fifth of last May, the work was commenced, and has, within the 
last few days, been completed. This morning, it was dedicated 
to the worship of Almighty God. The Rev. William W. Latta 
offered the dedicatory prayer ; and the sermon, on the occasion, 
was preached by the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, from Genesis 28 : 17 : 
"How dreadful is this place : this is none other but the house 
of God, and this is the gate of heaven." The service was at- 
tended by a large, intelligent, and attentive audience. The 
amount expended in remodelling this church, was one thousand 
and fifty dollars ; in furnishing it, three hundred and fifty. 



40 

During the four years and five months in which your pastor 
has labored in this field, nineteen members have been added to 
this church, on examination ; and six, on certificate. We have, 
at present, ninety-three members. Among those who have been 
received on examination, within the past year, we may mention 
the name of William Cain. He is now at a classical school, pre- 
paring to enter college, with the view of dedicating himself to 
the service of the Lord, in the gospel ministry. 

The number of adults baptized by your pastor, is seveh ; the 
number of infants, ten. 

The Sabbath School, held in the Cedar Grove Church, num- 
bered, in 1849 and 1850, about thirty scholars. In 1851, it con- 
sisted of seventy-six scholars, and ten teachers. In 1852, we had 
one hundred and twelve scholars, and seventeen teachers. The 
present season, our school consists of one hundred and twenty- 
five scholars, and seventeen teachers. 

The Sabbath School held in the Church of Caernarvon num- 
bers, this summer, sixty scholars, and ten teachers. 
. A Sabbath School has been held for several years in Bear- 
town, superintended and taught, in part, by members of this 
church. It consists, this season, of forty-eight scholars, and 
eight teachers. 

During the last four years, a prayer-meeting has been regu- 
larly maintained by the congregation of Cedar Grove, every Sab- 
bath morning, in the church ; and in the winter months, also, on 
Thursday evening. After the Sabbath Schools are closed in the 
fall, a class of adults recite on the Shorter Catechism, every 
Sabbath morning, in the Cedar Grove Church, until the schools 
are opened in the spring. Last winter, a class of adults met 
every alternate Sabbath afternoon, in the Church of Caernarvon, 
to answer questions on the Shorter Catechism. 

The contributions of the congregations of Cedar Grove and 
Caernarvon, the last four years, to various benevolent purposes, 
amount to one thousand nine hundred dollars. In addition to 
this, they have expended, on the erection of the manse, two 
thousand four hundred dollars ; and have, within the last few 
days, completed the remodelling and furnishing of the Cedar 



41 

Grove Church, at an expense of one thousand four hundred dol- 
lars. Mrs. Catharine Jenkins has expended, in improving the 
Church of Caernarvon, one hundred and eighty dollars. She 
has also presented to the churches, two thousand dollars ; and 
has released a mortgage on the Caernarvon Church edifice, 
amounting to six hundred and fifty-five dollars and seventy- 
three cents. 

The whole amount, thus permanently secured, within the last 
four years, to the churches in which your pastor labors, is six 
thousand six hundred and thirty-five dollars. 

A balance of foiu- hundred and thirty dollars, for the remo- 
delling and furnishing of the Cedar Grove Church edifice, is this 
day due against the Congregation. 

Before we close this sketch, we may mention, that the congre- 
gation who worship in the Church of Caernarvon, and others re- 
siding in their vicinity, have resolved to erect a building, to be 
used as a classical school, under the supervision of the church. 
The heirs of the Windsor estate have presented one hundred and 
seven perches of land, adjoining the Caernarvon churchyard, as 
a site for the Academy. It is a high and beautiful situation, 
commanding an extensive view of the surrounding valley. The 
house will be erected the present season, and the school opened 
in the spring of 1854. The completion of the house will cost 
one thousand five hundred dollars, which, within a small amount, 
has been subscribed. 

The heirs of the Windsor estate have also added to the Caer- 
narvon churchyard, twenty-seven perches of land, for the purpose 
of making it a more capacious burying-ground. Within the last 
five years, nine hundred and seventy dollars have been expended 
on this churchyard, for the purchase of monuments and iron 
railing. 

In concluding this history, we may rerdark that its limits have 
not allowed us to delineate the character of any of the members 
of this church, except her ruling elders, and others who have 
maintained a conspicuous standing in her communion. The re- 
tired, humble Christian, adorning, by a meek and prayerful spirit, 
the profession of the religion of Jesus Christ, has been, in more 

4 



42 

than one instance, with much reluctance, passed over in silence. 
This has been especially the case, with some of the female mem- 
bers of the church. Although their names have not been men- 
tioned here, we trust they are wi'itten in the Lamb's book 
of life, and their glorified spirits are now rejoicing in his 
presence. 

This church has sent out from among the number of her mem- 
bers, three ministers of the Gospel. One of these was a missionary 
in a foreign land ; but, after laboring in that field one year and 
six months, he was suddenly called, by a mysterious Providence, 
to the presence of his Lord. One of the members is now pre- 
paring to enter on the Master's service. At no period since her 
origin, in 1775, has this church been without at least some 
members of more than ordinary piety. Were it proper to speak 
of the living, we might delineate characters of the present day, 
not unworthy of imitation. At the risk of overstepping the 
limits of propriety, in this respect, we would draw aside, for a 
moment, the veil that hides from the world the character of one, 
whose example of meekness, patience, humility, and prayerful 
spirit, should not be lost. She is the eldest daughter of the Eev. 
John Carmichael, and has passed through the chequered scenes 
of eighty-seven years. Residing with her sister, the present 
proprietor of Windsor, she has long been a much-esteemed mem- 
ber of this church ; and, perhaps, we could not express a much 
better wish for her friends who may survive her, than that her 
mantle may fall upon them. 

During the space of seventy-eight years, this church has main- 
tained, through the kindness of Providence, a respectable exis- 
tence, in the midst of the most adverse circumstances ; being 
drained by the tide of emigration, and surrounded by a population 
almost inaccessible. She has always been small, but never weak ; 
few, but never insignificant. The leaven of her influence has 
spread around, and has been felt, while its origin was, perhaps, 
not recognised. Who can tell how much the improved condition 
of the morals of society, in your midst, may be owing to the 
precepts and example of those devoted men, who boldly stood 
forth in defence of the Sabbath, and the observance of the whole 



*ss 



43 

law of God ! Who can tell how much the present prosperity 
of this church may be owing to the prayers of your pious 
fathers ! Who can tell how intimately your salvation may be 
associated with the supplication of lips long sealed in death ; 
as links in the chain by which you shall be drawn to heaven ! 

Note. — After the above history was read, a subscription was circulated, to obtain 
the balance due for the remodelling and furnishing of the church. Four hundred 
and thirty dollars, which was the amount required, was subscribed by the Congre- 
gation ; and all pecuniary obligations of the church, consequently, liquidated. 



THE END. 



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